This search function provides links to outputs produced by NIHR Innovation Observatory. These are briefing notes or reports on new or repurposed technologies. This search will not return all technologies currently in development as these outputs are produced as required for our stakeholders.

Results

Tanezumab is in clinical development for the treatment of moderate to severe chronic pain associated with osteoarthritis and chronic low back pain. Pain is an unpleasant sensory experience associated with damage to body tissues due to an injury, physical pressure, or inflammation of some part of the body. Chronic pain is persistent or recurrent and lasts for longer than 12 weeks. Moderate pain interferes significantly with daily living activities, and severe pain is disabling and causes an inability to perform daily living activities. Effective long-term treatment options for managing moderate to severe chronic pain are limited. Currently available pain medicines like opioids and analgesics may increase the risks of addiction, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal problems.

Daratumumab injected under the skin (subcutaneous formulation) is in development for the treatment multiple myeloma (MM) as an alternative to currently approved daratumumab intravenous formulation. MM is a rare, incurable cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow where large amounts of abnormal plasma cells are produced and interfere with the production of platelets, red and white blood cells. People with MM will experience periods of time without symptoms followed by periods when the illness comes back (‘relapsed’ MM). Eventually the periods without symptoms will shorten and the illness will become immune to the drugs given to treat it (‘refractory’ MM).

Esketamine nasal spray is being developed as a treatment that could be given to people with depression with an imminent risk of suicide. Major depressive disorder (often called depression or major depression in UK) is a serious mood disorder that can impact all aspects of daily life. Symptoms can include low mood, weight changes, lack of energy, disturbed sleep, and suicidal intentions and thoughts. The time between suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide is often very short, and so there is a need for urgent intervention and treatment.

Pioglitazone given both as an injection (directly into the inner ear) and oral tablets is being investigated as a treatment option for sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in adults. SSNHL, also known as sudden deafness, is an unexplained loss of hearing, typically in one ear and can happen instantly or over a span of several days. During this time, sound gradually becomes muffled or faint. SSNHL happens when organs in the inner ear or the nerve pathways between the ear and the brain become damaged. Whilst no medicines are authorised to treat the hearing loss itself, steroids are used to treat the symptoms or antibiotics if the cause is infection. Cochlear implants can be used but this does not completely restore hearing but amplifies sounds to a more normal level.

BIIB092 is a product that is being investigated for the treatment of progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). PSP is a rare condition that is a result of destruction of nerve cells in certain parts of the brain causing problems with balance, movement, vision, speech and swallowing. In patients with PSP, an abnormal form of a protein called tau accumulates in specific areas of the brain by spreading from brain cell to brain cell leading to their damage. Over time, PSP gets progressively worse, with people becoming severely disabled within three to five years of onset. Currently, there is no cure for PSP and no treatment to slow down the disease.

Relatlimab in combination or as a fixed dose with nivolumab, is in clinical development for patients with malignant (advanced or metastatic) melanoma that has previously been treated with immunotherapy (second line). Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive and life-threatening form of skin cancer. General symptoms of advanced melanoma may include weight loss, loss of appetite …

Lenalidomide in addition to a chemotherapy combination known as R-CHOP is in clinical development for newly diagnosed, previously untreated adult patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of the subtype known as activated B-cells (ABC) type. DLBCL is a cancer affecting a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes or B-cells. It is the most common form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma among adults. DLBCL is an aggressive cancer and although it can be cured in more than half of people affected, it remains a serious and life threatening disease. Treatment does not work as well for patients with the ABC type compared to patients with other DLBCL types who receive standard treatment.

Acalabrutinib is a novel oral anti‐cancer drug in clinical development for people with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who have not received any previous treatment. CLL is a type of cancer in which too many white blood cells are produced. As these cells develop abnormally, they are unable to function and fight infection and reduce the production of healthy blood cells. The disease is chronic and develops slowly. Treatment for CLL is complex and depends on a number of factors, including extent of disease, previous treatment, patient’s age, symptoms and general state of health. Patients whose CLL is not causing any symptoms or is getting worse only very slowly may not need treatment. Treatment for CLL is started only if symptoms become troublesome.

Acalabrutinib is a novel oral anti-cancer drug in clinical development for people with relapsed or refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) who have previously been treated (second line or greater). CLL is a type of cancer in which too many white blood cells are produced. As these cells develop abnormally, they are unable to function and fight infection and stop the production of healthy blood cells. The disease is chronic and develops slowly. R/R CLL means the cancer has come back after treatment and reaching remission, or the cancer has failed to respond to treatment. Treatment options for R/R CLL include targeted therapy drugs, chemotherapy, radiation therapy or surgery.

LY-900014 (ultra-rapid lispro) is in development for the treatment of adult patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a condition which usually starts early in life and occurs as a result of the pancreas not producing enough (or sometimes any) insulin. This results in elevated blood sugar levels which can damage many organs in the body. Type 1 diabetes usually runs in families. While type 1 diabetes cannot be cured, having regular, at least daily, injections of insulin can keep blood sugar levels stable. However some people, despite having regular injections of insulin, still do not have stable blood sugar levels.